IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


A 


^  >% 


1.0 


I.I 


■tt  Ui   12.2 
2.0 


U 


US. 


IL25  III  1.4 


Hiotographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


i\ 


33  WBT  MAIN  STMIT 

WIUTIR.N.Y.  MSM 

(71*)  •72-4503 


■^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  iVIicroreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  d^  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  CI 
to  the 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographicailv  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  if)  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 


n 

D 
D 

D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


l~~|    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagie 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  paliicul^e 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


D 


Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  inic  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reiii  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  Mure  serr^e  peut  .i>viser  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  :.iarge  int6rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutdes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppi^mentaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfiimi  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  AtA  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  ddtails 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mAthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu^s  ci-dessous. 


I      I   Coloured  pages/ 


D 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag^es 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaur6es  et/ou  pellicul6es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxei 
Pages  diculor^es,  tacheties  ou  piqudes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ditachdes 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Qualiti  inigale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppl^mentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


I      I  Pages  damaged/ 

I      I  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

r~71  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I      I  Pages  detached/ 

rri  Showthrough/ 

|~~|  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I      I  Only  edition  available/ 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
Slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  ref limed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure. 
etc.,  ont  iti  fiim^es  A  nouveau  de  fagon  A 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


Their 
possil 
of  the 
filmin 


Origin 
begini 
the  lai 
sion,  ( 
other 
first  p 
sion,  i 
or  illui 


The  la 
shall  G 
TIIMUE 
whichi 

Maps, 

differs 

entire 

beginr 

right 

require 

metho 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  fiim^  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

y 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


>laire 
IS  details 
ques  du 
nt  modifier 
Kiger  une 
ie  filmage 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanlcs 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
ginArositA  de: 

BibliothAque  nationale  du  Canada 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  *t4  reproduites  avec  Ie 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet6  de  l'exemplaire  fiimA,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


id/ 
qudes 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimte  sont  fiimAs  en  commenpant 
par  Ie  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iliustration,  soit  par  Ie  second 
plat,  selon  Ie  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmte  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iliustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  ^^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED ").  or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
derniire  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  Ie 
cas:  Ie  symbole  —^  signifie  "A  ruiVRE  ".  Ie 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


taire 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  fitmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  li^rga  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  6tre 
filmte  it  des  taux  de  reduction  diff^rents. 
Lorsque  Ie  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  ciichA,  il  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  I'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas.  en  prenant  Ie  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


I  by  errata 
med  to 

nent 

une  pelure, 
fapon  A 


1 

2 

3 

32X 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

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V      !, 


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NATIONAL  LIBRARY       ' 
BIBLIOTHEaUE  NATIONALE 


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Mx.E/iofs 

Thankfgiving 

SERMON, 

OEtober  2^^*  ^759« 


.■1-   *Pt  tr  X:  "       *'••    '    '••'    '■■''  "'  ■«»*  'ir>    ^- 

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SERMON 

Preached  OSlober  25^^-   17S9« 
Being  a  DAY  of 

Public  Thanksgiving 

Appointed  by  Authority, 
For  the  Succefs 

Of  the  British  Arms  this  Year  j 

Efpecially 
In  the  Redudion  of 

§i^    U    E     B     E     Cy 

The  Capital  of  CAN  AD  A. 


.    By  A  N  D  R  E  w  E  L I  o  T,  M.  A. 

Pallor  of  the  New-North  Church  in  Bopn. 


i 


BOSTON:  Printed  by  Daniel  and  John  Knesland, 
for  J.  Winter  in  Vnion-fn-cet,  oppofite  to  the  Kin^s  Arms. 

M,DCC,LIX, 


I 


I 


PSALM    cxxvi. 


TX^  L(?r^  baf/j  done  great  things  for  us, 
whereof  we  are  glad. 


,1 


)8(^^^5^HEN  we  confidcr  our  unwortliincf% 
W  Cws^  every  inftancc  of  divine  goodnefs  ap- 
5-%'!^  pears  great  and  furprifing.  Creatur-es 
jsC'^^if  }fl£  who  have  tranfgrefled  the  laws  of  their 
maker  with  io  many  circumilances  of  bafenefs  and 
ingratitude,  could  reafonably  exped  nothing  but 
*'  indignation  and  wratli,  tribulation  and  anguidi". 
It  would  be  great  goodnefs  only  to  defer,  much 
more  to  remit  their  punifhment  :  It  would  be  lliil 
greater  to  beftow  favors  upon  them.  * 

In  this  view  of  things,  how  many  and  great  are 
our  obligations  to  God,  "  who  redeemeth  our  lives 
*'  from  deftrudion,  and  crowneth  us  wlrh  loving- 
*'  kindnefs  and  tender  mercies"  !  He  proteCU  ui 
amidft  a  thoufand  dangers  :  He  makes  the  moft 
kind  and  generous  provifion  for  us  :  His  adls  of 
goodnefs  are  daily  renewed  •,  we  experience  his 
*'  loving-kindnefs  in  the  morning,  and  his  faith- 
"  fulnefs  every  night". 

This 


A 


6     A  navk/J^iving  SERMON. 

Tfiis  confbant  care  of  Heaven  clefervcs  our 
thankful  notice  and  daily  acknowledgements.  But 
tliLTe  are,  in  the  courfe  of  providence,  fome  un- 
common events,  fome  illudrious  difplayr,  or  divine 
power  and  goodnefs,  which  call  for  peculiar  at- 
tention and  give  fpecial  occafion  for  piaifc.  There 
is  no  time  \^hcn  we  have  not  realbn  to  blefs  the 
name  of  that  kind  Being  who  daily  "  loadedi  us 
"  with  his  benefits  ,"  but  there  are  feafon.s,  when 
providence  calls  us  to  fuch  expreffions  of  joy,  as 
would  not  be  decent  at  other  timer,  •,  there  is  "  a 
"  time  to  lauo;h". 

Acre  ACLE  to  this  has  been  the  practice  of  good 
men  in  all  ages.     I'hey  have  not  been  unmindful 
of  the  common  blefiings  of  providence  •,  but  when 
they  have  experienced  any  remarkable  falvation, 
they  have  taken  care  particularly  to  exprefs  their 
gratitude  to  the  God  of  heav'n. — This  is  the  tenor 
of  the  pfalm  which  contains  my  text  ;  and  which, 
it  is  fuppoJed,  v.'as  wrote  by  Ezra,  or  Ibme  other 
nan  of  God,  at  the  return  of  Ifraei  from  Babylon. 
''  When  tliL'  Lord  turned  again  tlie  captivity  of 
^'  Zion,  we  Vvcre  like  them  that  dream.    Then  was 
*'  our  mouth  niled  with  laughter,  and  our  tongue 
''  with  finging  :  Then  laid  they  among  the  hea- 
*'  then,  the  Lord  hath  done  great  things  for  them. 
*'  The  Lord  hath  done  great  things  for  us ;  we  aiC 
"  glad".     How  fuitabie  a  frame  !  When  God  had 
•  .  by 


u 


* 


by 


A  Thank/giving  SERMON.       7 

by  a  furprifing  turn  in  providence,  bro*t  them  back 
attcr  a  long  captivity  to  their  own  land  •,  to  the 
enjoyment  of  ihcir  civil  and  religious  privileges. 

What  was  right  and  fit  then  is  right  and  fit 
now.  AVhen  God  is  pleafed  fignally  to  preferve 
and  blefs  us  ;  when  he  does  great  things  for  the 
comir.jnity  to  which  we  belong  •,  when  there  are 
events  which  are  like  greatly  to  promote  the  in- 
terell  of  relig'on  and  liberty,  wc  ought  to  rejoice 
and  be  glaJ. 

I  STEAK  of  this  as  a  duty  :  So  far  indeed  as  Joy 
is  merely  the  exercife  of  pafTion,  it  is  not  perhaps 
a  voluntary  thing,  but  proceeds  from  animal  na- 
ture. It  is  a  part  of  religion,  when  we  confider 
the  events  which  give  us  this  pleafing  fenfation  as 
ordered  by  God  ;  when  our  minds  are  affeded  with 
a  fenfe  of  his  goodnefs  \  when  it  attracts  our  love 
to  him,  and  difpofes  us  to  every  return  of  grati- 
tude we  are  capable  of  ♦,  to  fpeak  well  of  liis 
name,  to  praife  him  for  his  goodnefs,  "  to 
^'  bring  forth  thofe  fruits  of  righteoulhefs  which 
"  are  by  Jefus  Chrift  to  the  praife  and  glory  of 
''  God".  All  this  is  included  in  or  conneded  with 
religious  joy,  with  that  joy  which  we  ought  to  ex- 
prefs,  when  God  does  great  things  for  us. 

The  tendency  of  all  God's  difpenfations  towards 

us  is  to  reclaim  us  from  fin,  to  make  us  holy  and 

obedient. 


i: 


6     A  Thank/giving  SERMON. 

obedient.  AfHidlions  are  defigri'd  to  awaken  and 
alarm  us  j  to  convince  us  of  the  evil  of  fin  ;  to 
hunible  us  for  what  has  been  amifs  \  to  produce  a 
holy  watchfulnefs  and  circumfpcfbion. — The  mcr- 
cits  of  God  fct  him  before  us  in  a  mod  amiable 
light,  who  does  good  to  the  evil  and  unthankful  % 
ilicy  Ihow  the  ingratitude  of  moral  evil  •,  they  tend 
to  mtk  us  into  that  **  godly  forrow",  which  "  work- 
*'  tth  repentance  unto  li;e  not  to  be  repented  of"  • 
And  if  they  meet  with  an  ingenuous  mind,  thefe 
difpenfaiions  will  have  at  kaft  as  powerful  eft*c6l  as 
the  other,  "  the  goodnefs  of  GoJ  leadeth  to  re- 
**  pen  ranee"  ;  The  greater  or  the  more  vifible 
this  goodnefs  is,  16  much  the  more  certain  and  the 
more  evident  fliould  the  eflldl  be. 

The  greatefl  inftance  of  divine  goodnefs  that 
ever  was,  or  perhaps  can  be  exhibited,  is  the  gift 
of  his  Son  to  fave  a  loft  and  periihlng  world.  This 
was  goodnefs  which  had  every  circumftance  to 
denominaic  it  great. — It  was  of  the  greatelt  impor- 
tance to  the  children  of  men  -,  the  defign  of  it  was 
to  refcue  them  from  the  depths  of  mifery,  and  to 
make  them  compleatly  luppy. — It  was  pure,  un- 
mixed, dijinterelled  love  j  God  could  not  ftand  in 
need  of  us,  or  be  made  any  better  or  happier  by 
ITS  y  lie  is  by  a  necefTity  of  nature  as  great,  as  ex- 
cellent, as  happy,  as  it  is  polfible  for  him  to  be. — 

It  wa:  exercired  towards  creatures  who  had  render'd 

themfelves 


1 


m  and 
in  •,  to 
duce  a 
c  mcr- 
miable 
nkful ; 
:y  tend 
'  work- 
d  of" : 
i,  thefe 
ftc6t  as 
to  re- 
vifible 
,nd  the 


ts  that 
le  gift 
This 
':Ce  to 
mpor- 
it  was 
nd  to 
;,  un- 
and  in 
er  by 
as  ex- 
be. — 

ider'd 
felves 


A  Thank/giving  SERMON.      9 

themfclvcs  unworthy  of  it  by  their  impiety  and 
wicked ncfs  j  who  deferved  to  be  punilhed  and  not 
rewarded  •,  to  receive  evil  and  not  good  at  the  hands 
of  God. — Every  outward  mercy  ahnofl  difappears 
before  this  great,  this  infinite,  this  comprehenfive 
grace. — This  amazing  adl  of  love  (hould  be  ever 
in  our  minds,  it  fliould  be  a  continual  fource  of  joy, 
the  conllant  fubjed:  of  our  praife,  a  daily  excite- 
ment to  gratitude  and  obedience.  To  this  it  is 
owing  that  we  live,  or  have  any  comfort  in  life. 
To  this  we  are  indebted  for  all  the  goodnefs  in 
wliich  God  pafTes  before  us  in  this  world,  and  for 
the  agreable  expedations  we  have  in  another.— 
This  Ihipendous  adl  of  grace  is  the  admiration  of 
Angels ;  thefe  glorious  fpirits  "  defire  to  look  into** 
the  wonders  of  redeeming  love  •,  they  contemplate 
on  tlie  wifdom  and  goodnefs  of  this  great  work^ 
with  facred  delight  •,  this  affords  them  a  new  fub- 
je6l  of  praife,  a  new  occafion  of  joy.    They  rejoice 

that  God  has  got  to  himfelf  new  honor,  and  ap- 
pears in  a  charadler  they  were  ilrangers  to  before. 
Before,  they  knew  him  to  be  "  good  to  all"  and 
that  "  his  tender  mercies  are  over  all  his  works"  : 
Now,  He  reveals  himfelf  to  be  a  God  "  forgiving 
*'  iniquity  and  tranfgrefllon,  and  fin".  They  fee 
there  is  room  for  the  recovery  of  man,  for  his 
reftoration  to  the  image  and  favor  of  God  :  That 
he,  whom  they  looked  upon  as  irrecoverably  loll, 
is  happily  found  ;  That  he,  who  appeared  to  be 

B  funk 


i-^ 


lo   A  JUnl/ghing  SERMON. 

funk  in  an  abyfs  of  mifery,  is  raifed  to  the  profpe^t 
of  eternal  happinefs  and  glory  :  That  all  this  is 
done  without  any  difhonor  to  the  perfedions  of 
God  ;  that  they  are  magnified  and  made  to  Ihine 
with  greater  brightnefs  than  they  did  before.— • 
Their  love  toGod,  their  benevolence  to  men,  move 
them  to  tune  their  harps  to  this  joyful  found,"  glory 
*'  to  God  in  the  higheft,  and  on  earth  peace,  good 
"  will  towards  men". 

Whilf  Angels  have  their  anthems  of  praife  on 
this  occaiion,  fhall  we  be  filent  and  unaffeded  ! 
We,  for  whom  God  has  done  thefe  great  things, 
and  who  are  to  reap  all  the  advantage ! — We  ought 
to  be  afliamed,  to  blufh  at  the  tho't  of  fuch  ingra- 
titude. Let  II  ?  rather  lift  up  our  hearts  and  voices 
in  fongs  of  praife  to  Him,  who  "  hath  vifited  and 
"  redeemed  his  people,  and  hath  raifed  up  an  horrt 
"  of  falvation  for  us  in  the  houfe  of  his  fervant 
"  David". — To  Him,  who  hath  fo  loved  a  finful 
world,  as  to  give  his  only  begotten  and  dearly  be- 
loved Son,  "  that  whofoever  believeth  in  him  Ihould 
**  not  perilh,  but  have  everlafling  life". — To  Him, 
who  hath  favored  us  with  the  glad  tidings  of  fal- 
vation, "  hath  bleffed  us  with  all  fpiritual  blefiings 
"  in  heavenly  places  in  Chrift  Jefus",  from  being 
heirs  of  hell,  has  advanced  us  to  the  hope  of  "  an 
"  inheritance  incorruptible,  ani  undefiled,  and  that 
*'  fadeth  not  away". — To  Him,  who  "  hath  raifed 

r  up 


i 


■4; 


tc 


tc 


it, 


(C 


A Tlankfghing  SERMON,    ii 

"  up  his  Son  Jefus  and  fet  him  at  his  own  right 
hand  in  the  heavenly  places.  Far  above  all  prin- 
cipality and  power,  and  might  and  dominion, 
"  and  evc-y  name  that  is  named,  not  only  in  this 
"  world,  but  alfo  in  that  which  is  to  come  :  and 
hath  put  all  things  under  his  feet,  and  gave  him 
to  be  head  over  all  things  to  the  Church" — Every 
new  inftance  of  divine  goodnefs,  every  mercy  in 
providence,  every  blefling  of  grace  fhould  lead  our 
tho'ts  to  Chrift  who  is  the  fountain  from  whence 
all  our  mercies  flow,  and  we  Ihould  take  occafion 
from  thence  to  blefs  God  for  redeeming  love. 
Chrift  has  purchafed  all  the  good  we  receive,  and 
He  is  the  immediate  difpenfer  of  it.— All  power  is 
given  to  hirn,  he  rules  in  the  kingdom  of  provi- 
dence, as  well  as  in  the  kingdom  of  grace. 

What  Chrift  does  for  our  fouls,  and  to  promote 
our  happinefs  in  another  world,  undoubtedly 
deferves  our  firft  and  moft  grateful  acknowledge- 
ments, becaufe  our  fouls  are  of  more  worth  than 
our  bodies,  and  time  bears  no  proportion  to  Eter- 
nity.— But  outward  and  temporal  mercies  are  not 
for  this  reafon  to  be  pafTed  over  in  filcnce.  They 
are  ftill  mercies,  and  fometimes  they  are  fuch  as 
difcover  diftinguifhing  goodnefs,  and  have  a  near 
connection  with  fpiritual  and  eternal  blelFings. 

God  does  great  things  in  providence.  An  event 
mayjuftly  be  denominated  great,when  it  is  of  a  very 

B  ^  intereftiiig 


>'l 


12    A  Thank/giving  SERMON. 

interefting  nature  ;  as  when  it  nearly  affecls  us, 
our  perfons,  our  families,  our  country. — Or,  when 
it  is  bro't  about  in  an  extraordinary  and  uncommon 
manner. — It  is  greateft  of  all,  when  both  thefe  cir- 
cumflances  meet  •,  when  God  grants  great  falvation 
in  a  way  that  is  fgrprifing  and  unexpeded. 

When  Jofhua  went  up  againfty^/,  and  deftroyed 
the  city  with  it's  inhabitants,  it  was  an  event  of 
great  importance  to  Ifrael^  who  were  jud  entring 
Canaan^  and  had  met  with  an  humbling  repulfe 
before  that  little  city.  But  there  was  otherwife 
nothing  great  in  that  expedition.  The  means  were 
quite  adequate  to  the  end.  It  was  no  way  fur- 
prifing,  that  JoJJma  with  a  large  army  of  chofen 
men,  Ihould  fubdue  a  city  that  had  only  twelve 
thoufand  inhabitants.  On  the  other  hand,  when 
the  walls  of  Jericho  ftjll  down  before  Ifrael^  it  was 
great  and  wonderful,  becaufe  there  was  no  fecond 
caufe  that  could  produce  fuch  an  effcd:,  jt  difcover- 
ed  the  ipimediatc  hand  of  God. 

God  did  great  things  fovlfrad^  when  hedeliver'd 
them  from  thei  r  bondage  In  £^1;/'/.  He  free'd 
tliem  from  the  mod  abje(5l  flavery,  and  brought 
them  into  a  la:^e  place  :  And  he  accomplifhed  this 
deliverance  by  a  feries  of  wonders. — He  did  grea(: 
things  for  them  at  the  red  Tea,  when  he  dried  up  the 

fca  for  their  paflage,   and  caufed  the  waters  to  return 

and 


it 

I 


•N. 

'eels  us, 
r,  when 
ommon 
[lefe  cir- 
alvation 


^ftroyed 
vent  of 
entring 

repulfe 
herwife 
ns  were 
'ay  fur- 

chofen 

twelve 
I,  when 

it  was 

fecond 

ifcover- 


ellver'd 

J  free'd 

)rought 

led  this 

1  grear, 

up  the 

return 
and 


" 


cc 


cc 


A  Hanhfgivmg  SERMON.    13 

and  overwhelm  Pharaoh  with  his  hoil. — He  did 
great  things  for  them,  when  "  in  the  day  time  he 
"  led  them  with  a  cloud,  and  all  the  night  with  a 
*'  light  of  fire".  When  "  he  bro't  Itreams  out  of 
"  the  rock,  and  caulcd  waters  to  run  down  like 
*'  rivers'*.     When  he  "  rained  manna  upon  them 

to  eat,  and  gave  them  of  the  corn  of  Heaven. 

Man  did  eat  Angel's  food,  he  fent  them  meat  to 
^'  the  full". — He  did  great  things  for  them,  when 
he  drave  the  heathen  out  of  Canaan^  and  gave 
Ifrad  quiet  pofTeffion  of  that  good  land. — He  did 
great  things  for  them  afterwards,  in  preferving  a 
people,  fo  diflinguifhed  by  their  religion  and  their 
laws  from  all  other  nations  ;  a  people  furrounded 
with  great  and  mighty  enemies,  who  hated,  who 
envied  them,  and  often  combined  for  their  de- 
ilrudlion.  Great  part  of  the  old  teftament  is  a 
hiftory  of  the  furprifing  things  God  did  for 
IjraeL  And  you  find  their  religious  Leaders  and 
Princes  not  only  joining,  but  going  before  their 
people  in  their  devout  acknowledgements  -,  they 
often  compofed  fongs  of  praife  on  the  occafion  : 
So  did  Mofes,  fo  did  David  and  others.  And  how 
well  did  it  become  them,  thus  to  pay  their  "  vows 
''  unto  the  Lord  in  the  prefence  of  his  people"  ! 
How  truly  great  and  noble  docs  a  triumphant 
General  appear,  going  up  to  the  houfe  of  the  Lord ; 
refigning  as  it  were  his  laurels  and  trophies  of 
yiftory  to  the  great  Governor  of  the  world ;  pral/ing 

his 


f  ' 


14     A  Thank/giving  SERMON. 

his  glorious  name,  in  the  language  of  that  great 
Prince  &  fuccefsful  General  King  Bavid  j  "  Thine, 
"  O  Lord,  is  the  greatnefs,  and  the  power,  and 
•'  the  glory,  and  the  vidlory,  and  the  majefty,  for 
"  all  that  is  in  the  heaven  and  in  the  earth  in  thine  i 
*'  thine  is  the  kingdom,  O  Lord,  and  thou  art  ex- 
*'  alted  as  head  above  alP'  !  Methinks,  a  General 
in  fuch  an  adl  of  rcligion,  appears  in  an  attitude  far 
fuperior  to  a  Roman  Diftator,  entring  their  city  in 
triumph  ;  which,  with  refpeft  to  external  pomp  and 
grandeur,  was  one  of  the  mod  glorious  fights  in  the 
world. 

It  is  very  true,  God  often  wrought  miracles  in 
favor  of  his  people  Ifrael :  He  delivered  them  in 
ways  above,  or  contrary  to  the  common  courfe  and 
laws  of  nature.  But  this  v/as  not  always  the  cafe  : 
There  was  at  other  times  the  intervention  of  fecond 
caufes  •,  their  Generals  were  bred  to  arms,  they 
were  men  of  courage  and  fkill ;  their  troops  were 
regular,  difcipliii'd,  and  inured  to  war.  In  thefe 
inflances,  as  well  as  the  other,  they  gave  the  glory 
of  all  their  fuccefs  to  God  ;  they  acknowledged, 
"  that  Uis  right  hand  and  his  holy  arm  had  gotten 
*'  Him  the  vidory". 

That  God  governs  the  world,  is  a  <-ruth  we  are 

taught  both  by  reafon  and  revelation.     No  event 

comes  to  pafs  without  the  concurrence  of  his  pro- 

vjdepce  | 


cc 


(C 


cc 


:)N. 

at  great 
'  Thine, 
^er,  and 
efty,  for 
1  thine  i 
art  ex- 
General 
tude  far 
r  city  in 
>mp  and 
ts  in  the 


acles  in 
hem  in 
iffe  and 
le  cafe  : 
'  fecond 
IS,  they 
3S  were 
n  thefe 
e  glory 
edged, 
gottei^ 


we  are 

)  event 

is  pro- 
iepce  5 


i 


A  Tlankfghing  SERMON.    15 

vidence  :  We  are  therefore  obliged  to  him,  wheir 
things  go  well  with  us,  in  whatever  way  the  effedt 
is  produc'd.  The  more  fignal  a  favor  is,  or  the 
more  extraordinary  the  way  in  which  it  is  granted  ; 
fo  much  the  more  evident  is  the  hand  of  God,  and 
fo  much  the  more  loudly  does  He  call  upon  us  to 
blefs  and  praife  his  glorious  name. 

God  has  done  marvellous  things  for  his  Church, 
fince  miracles  have  ceafed  :  And  in  fonie  of  them, 
there  has  been  fuch  an  uncommon  concurrence  of 
circumftances,  as  has  been  almoft  equal  to  a  mira- 
cle :  The  hand  of  God  has  been  as  vilible,  and 
there  have  been  as  certain  marks  of  divine  power 
and  goodnefs. 

It  would  take  more  time  than  you  would  be 
willing  to  allow  me,  only  to  mention  the  great 
things  which  God  has  done,  fince  Mefliah  appear'd 
and  fet  up  his  kingdom  in  the  world. 

The  Chriftian  Church  may  adopt  that  language 

of  the  Pfalmift  ;  "  many  a  time  have  they  afflided 

"  me  from  my  youth  up  may  Ifrael  now  (ay,  many 

"  a  time  have  they  affl idled  me  from  my  youth  ; 

"  yet  they  have  not  prevailed  againft  me".    It  has 

met  with  the  moll  violent  aflaults  and  cruel  per- 

fecutions.     It  hath  been  "  troubled  on  every  fide,' 

but    not  oppreffed  j   perplexed,   but  not  in 

^  delpair  j 


I'' 


r 


1 6     A  Thank/giving  SERMON. 

•*defpair ;  perfecuted,  but  not  forfaken  •,  caft  down, 
"  but  not  deftroyed".  It  has  been  like  ^'  the  bufn 
*'  that  burned  with  fire,  and  was  noc  confumed". 
And  oftentimes  it  has  come  forth  with  greater 
brightnefs  than  before. — This  was  the  cafe  at  the 
Reformation  from  popery.  This  had  fo  fmall  be- 
ginnings and  was  fo  violently  opposed,  that  to  a 
human  view  of  things  it  mud  foon  have  an  end.  But 
fo  mercifully  did  God  interpofe  ;;  that  in  a  few 
years,  many  fovereign  Princes  embrac'd  the  re- 
formed religion,  and  flood  up  to  patronize  and  de- 
fend it  :  So  that  the  moft  formidable  leagues,  and 
fevere  profcriptions,  together  with  the  efforts  of 
the  bloody  court  of  inquifition,  were  ineffedtual  to 
extirpate  what  the  enemies  of  the  Reformation  ig- 
norantly  called  the  northern  herefy.  In  lefs  than  * 
forty  years  from  the  time  Luther  appeared  againft 
the  Pope's  indulgences,  the  Proteflant  religion  be- 
came eflablifhed  in  Germany^  and  filled  near 
half  of  Europe, 

England  foon  fhook  off  the  papal  yoke,  and 

became  the  bulwark  of  the  Proteflant  caufe.     But 

how  often  have   it's   religious,  as   well   as  civil 

liberties 


Luther  began  the  Reiormation  in  1517 — in  1552  was  the 
treat)  of  PaJJauy  between  the  Emperor  Charles  Vth.  and 
the  proteflant  princes  and  ftates.  When  the  proteftants  were 
not  only  fccured  in  the  free  exercife  of  their  religion,  but 
proteflant  judges  were  admitted  into  the  imperial  chamber, 
aijd  me&  were  allowed  to  fw  e^r  without  invQcating  thg  faints. 


i 


I 


I 


i 


ON. 

aft  down, 
the  bufn 
nfiimed". 
h  greater 
afe  at  the 
fmall  be- 
hat  to  a 
end.  But 
n  a  few 
i  the  re- 
"  and  de- 
ques, and 
fForts  of 
edlual  to 
lation  ig- 
fs  than* 
i  againft 
igion  be- 
ied  near 


'ke,  and 

fe.     But 

as  civil 
liberties 

2  was  the 
Vth.  and 

lants  were 

gion,  but 
chamber, 

the  faints. 


A  7hank/givwg  S  E  R  M  O  K      tj 

liberties  been  bro't  into  the  rhoft  imminent  hazard  ? 
Soon  a  furious  bigot  *  to  the  Church  o^  Rome  af-« 
cended  the  throne,  and  railed  a  perftcution  that 
kept  Smithfeldm  a  continual  blaze. — God  In  rhercy 
cut  r4ort  her  reign,  and  placed  Queen  Elizabeth 
at  the  liead  of  the  kingdom,  who  reftored  things 
nearly  to  the  ftate  they  were  in  the  reign  of  King 
Edward  VI  th. 

The  enemies  of  our  religion  were  ever  contriv- 
ing the  deftrudion  of  that  great  Princefs.  The 
profpe^t  feemed  mod  threatning  in  the  year  1588, 
when  the  Spaniards  fent  out  an  Armada  againft 
England^  which  their  infallible  Head  pronounced 
invincible.  But  the  God  of  heaven  foon  made  it 
evident  that  "  in  the  thing  wherein  they  dealt 
"  proudly,  he  was  above  them".  He  "  blew  with 
*'  his  wind"  and  they  were  fcattered,  as  was  religi- 
oufly  acknowledged  on  the  medals  which  were 
ftruck  upon  the  occafion. 

This  open  attempt  being  iinfuccefsful,  our 
popifh  adverfaries  have  ever  fmce  been  forming 
plots  and  confpiracies  to  overthrow  our  religion? 
and  liberties. 

God  wrought  wonderfully  for  us  •,  when  there 
was  in  his  providence  fuch  a  feafonable  difcovery 

of  the  infernal  defign  to  take  off  King,  Lords  and 

C  Commons 

«■  ■  ■     ■   —        Ill  III 

?  Qjjeen  Mary, 


'i8    A  Thank/giving  S  E  R  M  O  M. 


(i 


Commons    at  one  blaft,  and  to    Tiake  a  blooc^.y 
mafTacre  at  the  fame  time  all  over  the  kingdom.  * 

It  was  a  no  lefs  merciful  fifth  of  ^ovemher  ; 
when  the  glorious  Prince  of  Orange  landed  in  Eng- 
landy  to  deliver  the  nation  from  popery  and  arbi- 
trary power,  with  which  it  was  awfully  threatned  : 
^he  happy  confequences  of  which  were  felt  by  all 
Europe,  By  this  illuftrious  event,  a  flop  was  put 
to  the  progrefs  of  the  French  tyrant  Louis  14th, 
who  was  making  la^ge  ftride;.  to  univerfal  mon- 
archy.-— And  in  the  next  reign,  that  haughty  Mon- 
arch was  fo  humbled  by  the  Britifh  arms,  conduced 
by  that  great  and  fuccefsful  General  John  Duke  of 
Marlborough^  that  he  muft  foon  have  received  peace 
on  our  own  terms,  if  he  had  not  prevailed  more  by 
fecret  arts  than  he  could  do  by  open  force.  By 
-his  intrigues  in  the  court  oi  Great-Britain^  he  ob- 
tained a  peace,  which  has  been  the  fatal  caufe  of 
molt  of  the  evils  we  have  fuffered  fmce. 

If  we  take  a  view  of  events  on  this  fide  the 
Atlantic,  we  have  the  greateii  reafon  to  ufe  the  lan- 
guage of  our  text  ^  "  The  Lord  hath  done  great 
**  things  for  us'^ 

Our  Fathers  came  into  this  land,whcn  they  were 

few,  very  few  in  number.    "  God  bare  them  as  oh 

"  eagles  wings",  He  carried  them  thro  a  fea  of 

difficulties. 


)»   T 


Thii  plot  v/as  to  have  been  exec^t^d  A'cv.  5  th  1605. 


Fj 


ON. 

a  bloof'jr 
igdom.  * 

^ovcmher  ; 
i  in  Eng- 
and  arbi- 
reatned  : 
-It  by  all 
was  put 
uis  14th, 
fal  mort- 
ity  Mon- 
Dnduded" 
Duke  of 
ed  peace 
more  by 
rce.     By 
?,  he  ob- 
caufe  of 


fide  the 
the  lan- 
ne  great 


ley  were 

ni  as  OH 

I  fea  of 
iculties, 

r 


I 


I 


4 


A  Thank/giving  SERMON.     19 

difficulties,  which  would   have   difcouraged   men 
who  were  not  influenced  by  religion.     Infpired  by 
this,  thty  chofe  to  venture   their  lives  among  fal- 
vages,  rather  than  to  giv^  up  their  religious  liberty, 
and  the  rights  of  confcience.    God  has  remarkably 
owned    their  zeal  for  his   caufe  and  ways.     Our 
Fathers   only  fought  an  afylum  from  tlie  florm  of 
perfccution,  and  where  they  might  in  quiet  enjoy 
their  ci^-l  &  religious  privileges  •,  God  has  profper- 
ed  and  increafed  us,  fo  that  we  are  become  a  com- 
paratively great  people.     It  may  be  faid  of  us,  as 
the  Pfalmift  fpcaks  of  God*s  7/r^f/of  old,  80  Pfal 
8.  (except  that  I  would  not  compare  our  mother- 
kingdom  to  Egypt  ;    with  whatever   feverity  the 
puritans  were  treated   in  England^  the  nation  as  a 
nation  were  not  chargeable  with  it,  the  greater  part 
of  whom  had  thofe  meafures  'n  deteftation  :  And 
even  among  thofe  who  governed  affairs,  there  is 
room  to  hope  there  were  fome  who  had  "  a  zeal 
"  for  God",  thu  we  are  perfuaded  it  was  not  "  ac-* 
"  cording  to  knowledge".)     "  Thou   haft",  fays 
the  Plalmift,  "  brought  a  vine  out  of  Egypt  -,  thou 
*'  haft  caft  out  the  heathen   and  planted  if ;  thou 
*'  preparedft  room  before  it  and  didft-  Ca  ;    1  to  take 
*'  deep  root,  and  it  filled  the  land.     The  hills  were 
^'  covered  with  the  fhadow  of  it,  and  the  boughs 
*'  thereof  were  like  the  goodly  cedars.     She  fent 
'^  out  her  boughs   unto  the  fea,  and  her  branches 
II  V^nto  the  river"^  g  j  JT 


20     A  Thankfzhiner  SERMON. 


■!5 


■i 


It  pl^afcJ  God  to  leave  the  natives  of  the  land, 
as  he  did  the  Cauaariitcs  of  old  tor  the  trial  ot  his 
people  Ifracl^  "  to  be  a;  prick3  in  their  eyes,  and 
as  thorn:  'i  their  fides".  Many  a  tin  c  did 
they  form  uv.^gns  to  cutoff  the  firil  fettle.-s  of 
New-EngLmd,  And  when  we  confider  their  num-» 
bers,  their  warlike  difpofuion,  and  their  pcrfed  ac- 
quaintance v/ith  the  country,  it  appears  a  wonder 
of  divine  goodnefs  they  did  not  attain  their  end. 
But  fometimes  their  mutual  jealoufies  have  pre- 
vented the  execution  of  their  defigns,  &  turned  tlieir 
arms  againlT:  one  another  ;  at  other  times,  when 
they  were  juft  ready  to  execute  their  purpofes, 
God  has  difcovered  and  difappointed  them.  "  ThQ 
"  fnare  has  broken  and  we  have  efcaped".  They 
are  now  fo  wafted  by  ficknefs,  and  diminifhed  by 
continual  v/ars,  that  ^f  we  had  no  other  neighbours 
we  Ihould  not  have  much  to  fear  from  them.  "  The 
"  Lord  is  King  for  ever,  the  heathen  are  peri{lie4 
.*'  out  of  his  land". 

The  other  neighbours  I  refer'd  to  are  theFrench, 

who  have  fettled  a  long  extent  of  country  on  the 

back  of    the  Britifh  Colonies.      Their  numbers 

have  been  comparatively  fmall,  but  agreable  to  the 

grafping  temper  that  nation  has  ever  difcovered, 

they  have  been  gradually  drawing  nearer  to  us,  as 

if  they  hoped  in  procefs  of  time  to  drive  u"s  into 

thw   fea.     They  have  been,  for  a  long  courfe  of 

years. 


3N. 

ih(i  land, 
al  of  his 
yes,  an  J 
line  did 
nki's  of 
ir  nuin- 
rfc6l  ac- 
wonder 
^ir  end. 
ve  pre- 
icd  their 
,  when 
arpoles, 
"  ThQ 
They 
bed  by 
jhboLirs 
"  The 
)eriflied 

Tench^ 

on  the 

I  m  hers 

to  the 

vered, 

us,  a« 

s  into 

irfe  of 
years. 


] 


A  thank/giving  SERMON.    21 

years,  the  caufe  of  the  wars  we  have  had  with  the 
natives,  they  have  fupplied  the  Indians  with  arms 
and  ammunition,  they  have  filled  then^  with  pre- 
judices againlt  the  Englilh,  they  have  encouraged 
them  in  inhumanities  unknown  to  civilized  nations, 
and  have  paid  them  for  the  mifchief  they  did. 
They  have  often  united  with  the  falvages,  to  com- 
mit ravages  on  our  frontiers,  "  to  burn  whole  towns 
and  villages,  to  butcher  the  people  in  cold  blood, 
and  to  perpetrate  the  moll  unmanly  cruelties  upon 
the  women  and  children".  Thefe  things  have  jufl- 
ly  raifed  the  refentments  of  the  Enghfh  colonies 
againft  them.  Their  defenfive  wars  they  found 
only  thinned  their  numbers  &  wafted  their  treafure, 
without  any  hope  of  feeing  a  period  put  to  the 
Indian  tragedies  -,  they  have  therefore  found  it 
neceffary  to  attack  the  Trench  in  their  turn,  whom 
they  juftly  look'd  upon  as  the  authors  of  their  mif- 
eries,  and  to  put  it  out  of  their  power  to  moleft 
them.  For  this  end  many  expeditions  have  been 
form'd,  which  have  been  carried  on  with  various 
fucceis. 

While  the  province  of  UAcadie  or  No'va-Scotia 

was  in  fubjedion  to  the  French^  the  New-England 

colonies,  who  felt  the  moft  pernicious  effedls  from 

it,  ufually  made  their  firft  attempts  upon  that.    But 

they  have,  from  the   days  of  our  fathers,  extended 

their  views  further,  it  has  been  the  general  tliought 

that 


^1 


'  I 


2  2     A  Hmnkf giving  SERMON. 

that  Canada  mud  be  reduced,  or  the  country  could 
not  be  fafe. 

It  may  not  be  foreign  to  the  bufinefs  of  the 
day  to  give  you  a  brief  account  of  the  defigns 
which  have  been  formed,  and  the  attempts  which 
have  been  made  sgainft  the  French  in  this  part  of 
the  world.  By  this  you  will  fee  what  troublefome 
neighbours  they  have  always  been  clleemM  :  What 
expenccs  we  have  been  put  to  on  their  account :  and 
how  much  better  our  fituation  is  by  the  conquells 
of  this  year,  than  it  has  ever  been  before  :  Which 
I  hope  will  tend  to  raife  your  fouls  in  gratitude  tq 
God,  who  has  fo  remarkably  appeared  for  us. 

So  long  ago  as  the  year  1627  and  1628,  *  Sir 
"David  Kirke  expelled  the  French  from  'hoth  fides 
the  river  St.  Laz!;rence,  and  after  fending  them  to 
England^  took  pofrcfiicn  of  all  Nova-Sec tia  an4 
Canada.  They  were  unhappily  ceded  to  France  a|: 
the  conclufion  of  a  peace. 

The  next  expedition  we  have  any  account  of  was 
rn  1654,  when  Oliver  Cromivcll  fcnt  CoX.Sedgwick  to 
reduce  Nova-Scotia^  who  recovered  the  country  for 
the  Englijh.     And  altho  a  treaty  was  concluded  in 

*  In  tranfcribing  this  difcourfe  for  the  prefs,  I  have  made 
this  hiftorical  narration  of  our  expeditions  a^ainll;  the  French, 
much  more  particular  than  it  was  in  the  delivery.  I  lho*t 
fpme  might  chcofe  to  have  them  all  \Xi  one  view. 


3N. 

try  could 

5  of  the 

defigns 

cs  which 

part  of 

blefome 

:  What 

nt :  and 

)nque(ls 

Which 

tude  tq 

lis, 

8,  *  Sir 
h  fides 
hem  to 
'ia  and 
"ance  z% 

of  was 
^jck  to 
try  for 
ded  in 

e  made 

French, 

J  lho*t 


A  TIjankfgiving  SERMON.    23 

1655,  and  "  the  French  ambafladors  made  prefling 
inllanccs  for  the  rellitution  of  that  country,  yet  it 
was  not  delivered  up,  but  remained  under  the 
jurifdiiHon  of  Enjand"  :  It  was  again  given  up  to 
the  French  in  the  reign  of  Charles  id.  In  thefe 
expeditions,  New-England  was  no  otherwife  con- 
cerned, than  as  they  were  intercfted  in  the  confe- 
quences. 

In  1 690,  the  eaftern  parts  being  gready  diflrefled 
by  the  incurfions  of  the  French  and  Indians  ;  Sir 
William  Phips  was  fent  by  the  Majfachufeits  Pro- 
vince to  reduce  Nova-Scotia^  and  in  a  (hort  time 
added  this  important  colony  to  the  Englijh  domi- 
hions.  * 

The  fuccefs  of  this  expedition  encouraged  the 

people  of  New-England^  in  conjundlion  with  New- 

Tcrky  to  make  a  vigorous  attack  upon  Canada  the 

fame  year,  both  by  fea  and  land. — The  plan  feems 

to  have  been  well  laid,-)-  but  by  aferies  of  accidents 

the 

*  It  was  giv'n  up  to  the  French  at  the  peace  ofRy/wicJt,  1697. 

f  1 06a  Englijh  with  1500  Indians  were  to  tnarch  from  Albany 
to  attack  Montreal^  while  Sir  William  PhipSy  with  2000,  laid 
fiege  to  ^lebec.  Dr.  Golden  in  his  Hiftory  of  the  five  nations 
informs  us  that  300  of  the  troops  that  were  to  go  from  Albany 
pafled  the  lake,  but  met  with  fach  a  warm  reception,  that 
they  returned  to  Albany y  Auguft  1 1 .  The  fleet  fet  fail  from 
Bojhn  Aug.g.  but  did  not  arrive  nt^ebec  *tillO<f?.5.  when  the 
feafon  was  fo  far  advanced,  that  allowing  there  was  no  miA 
conduft,  it  is  not  to  be  wonder*d  at  that  nothing  was  done 
topurpofe.    Many  tranfports  were  loft,  aiidfoflie  lay  1000 


\ 


r 


24     A  Thankfghing  S  E  R  M  O  M. 

the  expedition  proved  unfuccefsful,  many  of  our 
chofen  young  men  loft  their  lives,  and  it  brought 
poverty  and  difgrace  on  the  country.  We  became 
*'  a  reproach  to  our  neighbours,  a  icorn  and  a  de- 
rifion  to  thofe  that  were  round  about  us'*. 

The  French  in  Nova-Scotia  continually  encrea- 
fing,  ^nd  growing  more  form.idable  by  their  de- 
predations on  the  trade  of  the  colonies  and  incurfi- 
ons  into  the  country,  the  New-England  colonies  in 
1707,  made  an  attempt  on  Port-Royal^  now  Anna* 
pcUs^  which  did  not  fucceed. 

;  In  1 709,  Queen  Anne  fignified  to  the  colonies 
her  intentions  to  reduce  Canada^  and  direded  them 
to  get  ready  their  quota.  They  on  their  part  with 
the  greateft  chearfulnefs  complied  with  the  mo- 
tion. *  "  They  raifed  their  men  immediately, 
cloth'd  them  handfomely,  and  difciplin'd  them  for 
the  fervice,  and  had  laid  up  magazines  of  provifions 
both  for  their  own  and  the  Qiieen's  troops  theni 
Ikortly  expedled"  :  But  the  fleet  appointed  for  that 
expedition  tvas  dctain'd  fo  long  by  contrary  winds, 
or  fome  other  caufe,  that  the  fcafon  was  too  far 

advanced  to  proceed  in  the  defign. 

In 

men  in  that  expedition.  "  The  French  tho't  themfelves  in 
fuch  danger  at  that  time,  that  they  attributed  their  deliver- 
ance to  the  immediate  protcAion   of  Heaven.     And  for  thi/> 


reafon  the  people  of 


G)ijp/. 


-<r 


uercc 


make  an  annual  proceffionj  m 


commemoration  of  this  deliverance".     [Dr.  Golden.] 
'♦  Mr.  Dummer-%  Letter  to  a  noble  Lord, 


•| 


^\ 


of  our 
brought 
became 
id  a  de- 


encrea- 
leir  de- 
incurfi- 
onies  in 
V  Anna' 

colonies 
ed  them 
art  with 
he  mo- 
diately, 
lem  for 
mfions 
)s  then 
for  that 
winds, 
00  far 

In 

Ifelves  In 
deliver- 
for  thi/> 
fioni  iji 


1 


if 


-I 


1. 
•I 


A  rhanlfgtving  SERMON.    25 

In  T710,  Col.  'Nicholson  with  an  army  of  provin-^ 
cials,  joined  by  500  marines  from  Great-Britain^ 
made  another  attack  onP^rZ-i^^/j/,  and  reduced  that 
atid  the  neighbouring  country,  to  fubjedion  to  the 
Crown  of  Great-Britain,  * 

In  171 1,  Canada  again  became  the  objedl  of  at- 
tention  j  a  large  body  of  veteran  troops  with 
twelve  fliips  of  war  were  employed  in  the  fervice, 
and  all  warlike  ftores  were  provided  in  great  abun- 
dance. At  the  time  thefe  were  to  go  up  the  river 
St.  Laurence^  Col.  Nicholfon  was  fent  with  an  army 
of  provincials  and  Indians,  to  make  a  diverfion  on 
the  fide  q{ Montreal  You  all  know  how  fi:cally  -j- 
that  expedition  ifTued,  whether  by  cafualty  or 
treachery,  mull  be  left  to  the  decifion  of  that  great 
c'ay,  when  "  God  v,i'l  judge  the  lecrets  of  men,  by 
**  that  man  v;hom  l;c  luuli  ordainc;!". 

No  v/onder,  if  by  fuch  difappointments  in  our 

defigns   againft  Craw  day  our  ardor  was  fomewhat 

abated  :  And  Tome  wife  and  good  m.en  were  ready 

to  think,  that  Providence  pointed  out  our  duty,  to 

make  no  further  attempts  to  difpoflcTs  the   French 

of  their  country. 

D  However, 


*  By  the  T3th  Article  In  the  treaty  o?  Utrecht  1713,  all  No'va* 
Scotia  was  ceded  to  Great-Britain.  But  in  the  very  next 
article  the  ifland  of  Cape-Breton^  which  was  undoubtedly  a 
part  of  it,  was  given  up  to  the  French,  with  liberty  to  fortify. 

t  Eight  tranfports  were  loft,  and  884  men. 


/     ./ 


n' 


26     A  7%ankfghing  SERMON. 

However,  the  deftru6lion  oiCanfo  at  the  break- 
ing^ out  of  the  laft  French  war,  *  the  repeated  at- 
tempts upon  Annapolis,  the  danger  of  our  fifhery, 
and  indeed  of  the  whole  trade  of  thefe  northern 
colonies,  foon  alarmed  them,  raifed  their  martial 
fpirit,  and  put  them  on  an    expedition  againft 
Louijbourg,  the  Dunkirk  of  North-America,  as  the 
only  courfe  they  could  take   to  fecure  themfelves. 
An  expedition,  which  ought  never  to  be  forgotten 
by  the  children  oi  New-England,     You  cannot  but 
remember,  how  God,  by  a  feries  of  extraordinary 
providences,  deliver'd  that  ftrong  fortrefs  into  the 
hands  of  a  fittle  army  of  New-England  mtn  ;  none 
of  whom,  perhaps,  had  ever  feen  a  fiege,  or  been 
prefent  in  a  battle  before.     God  wrought  wonder- 
fully for  us.     He  taught  their  hands  to  war,  and 
their  fingers  to  fight.    Thro  God  they  did  vaUant- 
ly  J  He  trod  down  their  enemies  under  them,  -f* 


Mi 


The  cortqueft  of  Cape-Breton  led  the  miniflry  to 

think  of  an  expedition  againft  Canada.    A  plan  was 

hid  in  &igland,  to  attack  it  the  next  year  by  land 

and 


*  May  24,    1744. 

t  Governor  Shirley  firft  recommended  this  expedition  to  the 
AfTembly  about  the  midc"e  oi  Jan.  1744,5.-11  was  voted 
Jan.  25.  Lieut.  General  PepperrelU  who  was  appointed" 
Commander  in  chief,  fliilcd  with  the  Maffachufctts  troops. 
Mar.  1^,  They  landed  yf/>r/7  30.  Z,5«//^&«rg- was  furrender'd 
yune  17.  Our  army  confilled  of  about  4000.  The  gariibn 
and  inhabitants  capable  of  bearing  arms,  amounted  to  2000. 
We  loft  duriiip;  the  fiege  101  men  killed  by  the  enemy  and 
iiiX  other  .accidcnu  ;  and  30  died  of  ficknefs. 


% 


I 


.•^. 


ON. 

the  break- 
peated  at- 
jr  fifliery^ 

northern 
ir  martial 
n  again  ft 
:^,  as  the 
lemfelves. 
forgotten 
innot  but 
aordinary 
into  the 
n  ;  none 

or  been 
wonder- 
^ar,  and 
i  valiant- 
em.  -f- 

niftry  to 

plan  was 

by  land 
and 


'on  to  the 
vas  voted 
ippointe(!' 
ts  troops, 
rrender'd 
e  garifbn 

to  2000. 

emy  and 


M 


A  7%ank/giving  SERMON.    27 

and  fea.  Eight  battalions  of  regular  troops  were 
to  be  employed  in  this  fervice,  in  conjundion 
with  fuch  provincials,  as  could  be  raifed  in  time  for 
it  inNorth-America^  together  with  a  fquadron  of  his 
Majefty's  ihips.  The  New-England  troops  were 
to  proceed  with  the  regular  forces  up  the  river  St 
Laurence^  thofe  raifed  in  the  fouthern  colonies 
were  to  rendezvous  at  Albany ^  and  to  proceed  from 
thence  to  Montreal,  The  colony  troops  to  the 
number  of  8200  were  raifed  with  great  chearfulnefs, 
and  every  thing  on  our  part  was  ready  in  feafon. 
But  by  fqme  means  or  other,  the  fl;.*et  from  England 
was  employed  another  way,  and  the  expedition 
againft  Canada  was  laid  afide. 

The  fame  year,  (1746)  the  French  fent  a  very 
formidable  armament  to  Chehuuio^  (now  Halifax) 
in  order  to  reduce  Nova-Scotia,  and  every  other 
way  to  annoy  the  Englifh  in  thefe  parts.  So  that 
inftead  of  going  againft  the  country  of  our  enemies, 
we  every  moment  expc6led  a  vifit  from  them  in 
our  own.  But  God,  who  has  all  nature  at  his  com- 
mand, foon  delivered  us  from  our  fears.  Thev 
were  fo  diminiihed  by  ficknefs,  and  dif  .erfed  by 
ftorms,  tliat  they  were  render'd  incapable  of 
attempting  any  thing.  "  Some  ftiips  they  tliem- 
fdves  burnt  for  want  of  men  to  navigate  them  : 
Some  of  them  were  loft,  and  others  taken  in  their 

D  2  return 


/ 


a  8    A  thanlfgiving  SERMON. 

return  home".  >  So  that  this  great  Armada,  which 
has  been  faid  to  confiflof  near  halt  the  naval  force  of 
France^  was  in  a  great  meafure  deilroyed.  In  this, 
we  were  only  called  to  "  Hand  flili  and  fee  the  fal- 
vation  of  the  Lord". 

But  it  is  time  to  come  to  more  recent  events. 

It  was  itipulated  in  the  treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle^ 
tliat  "  all  things  fhoiild  be  reflored  to  the  fame 
condition  mNurth-America^  in  which  they  were,  or 
ought  to  have  been  fince  the  treaty  oiUtrecM\ 
And  in  confequence  of  another  article  in  the  treaty? 
commilTaries  were  appointed,  in  an  amicable  way 
to  examine  and  difcufs  all  points  in  difpute.  "  One 
of  the  principal  flipulations  which  accompanied  the 
nomination  of  commifTarics  was,  that  the  countries 
upon  which  they  were  to  decide,  fhould  fufFer  no 
alteration  in  the  mean  time".  Inftead  of  conform- 
ing to  thefe  articles  of  agreement,  which  would 
liave  been  the  moft  probable  method  of  termina- 
ting the  difi^:Tenccs  between  the  two  nations  ;  the 
French^  in  direfl  oppofition  to  them,,  built  forts  in 
places,  which  if  they  were  not  indifputably  ours, 
yet  it  was  dlfputable  tov/hom  they  belong'd  :  They 
•mprifoii'd  Britifli  Subjects  who  were  engag'd  in  a 
lawful  trade  :  They  attack'd  thofe  fortrelTes  which 
their  encroachments  obliged  us  to   eredt  :  Their 

evident  d':"ngn  v/as  to  get  puirefllon  of  the  whole 

country 


I 

k 


■% 


ON. 

da,  which 
al  force  of 
In  this, 
re  the  fal- 


"vents. 

-Cbapelle, 
the  fame 
were,  or 
Utrechr, 
le  treaty, 
able  way 
.    "One 
mied  the 
:oun  tries 
fulFer  no 
onform- 
\  would 
ermina- 
ms  ;  the 
forts  in 
y  ours, 

:  They 
*d  in  a 
5  whicli 

Their 

whole 
ountry 


•4 


5*^ 


■:* 


A  Thank/giving  SERMON.    29 

country  that  was  not  improved,  which  would  foon 
capacitate  them  to  invade  that  which  was. 

These  encroachments  and  the  hoftilities  which 
were  connedted  with  them,  at  length  alarm'd  the 
Britilli  miniftry  :  And  after  having  in  vain  tried 
every  other  method,  they  determined  to  oppofe 
force  to  force. 

Accordingly  in  1755,  General  Braddock  was 
fent  to  reduce  the  French  forts  upon  the  Ohio. 
The  event  of  that  expedition  was  melancholly  ; 
our  army  was  defeated,  the  General  himfelf  v  as 
killed,  there  was  a  terrible  carnage  of  both  offi- 
cers and  fbldiers,  and  the  enemy  became  pof- 
felTed  of  our  artillery,  ammunition,  provifions  and 
bacroage. 


't>t}' 


This  inglorious  defeat  was  in  a  great  mea- 
fure  balanced,  by  the  fuccefs  at  lake  George^ 
when  a  French  army  was  defeated,  their  General 
wounded  and  taken  prifoner,  and  great  num- 
bers were  flain. — The  fame  year,  the  forts  of 
Novr.-Scotia  were  reduced,  the  perfidious  French 
inhabitants  were  removed,  and  that  important  pro- 
vince fecured  to  the  Britifli  Crown  more  effe(ftually 
than  ever  -,  a  province,  which  in  the  hands  of  the 
French,  might  be  more  dangerous  to  us  even  than 

Canada  itfelf — Thefc  Succelies  were  more  fenfibly 

felt 


^ 


30   A  Tha?ik/ghing  SERMON. 

felt  by  us,  as  they  were  granted  by  Heav'n  to 
our  brethren  and  countrymen. 

• 
In  1756,  war  was  declared  againft  France  ;  and 
great  preparations  were  made  for  a  vigorous  attacjc 
on  their  fortrelTes  in  America,  But  it  proved  on 
our  part  an  inadlive  campaign.  It  was  not  fo  on 
the  fide  of  our  enemies.  General  Montcalm  laid 
fiege  to  Ofwego^  2l  fortrefs  which  had  coll  the  Crown 
great  fums,  and  which  was  the  only  place  we  pof- 
fefs'd  on  either  of  the  five  great  lakes  -,  after  a 
faint  refinance  it  was  furrender'd,  the  works  were 

« 

demolilhed,  the  garilbn  were  carried  captive,  and  a 
great  quantity  of  warlike  {lores  fell  into  the  enemy's 
hands. 


hi  I'j^'j^  God  faw  fit,  in  his  righteous  prqvi^ 

dence,  again  to  vifitus  with  lofles  and  difappointr 

ments  ;  a  large  fleet  and  army  arrived  at  Halifax-i 

with  a  defign,  as  was  fuppofed,  to  make  an  attempt 

on  Louijhourg  :  But    while  we   were  in  hope   to 

hear  of  great  things  done  by  them,  we  received 

news  that  the  army  was  returning,  and  all  tho'ts  of 

the  expedition  were   laid  afide.     Our  P.eet  indeed 

appear'd  before  the  "harbour  oi  Lcnifi'curg^hwx.  there 

met  with  a  terrible  florm,  in  which  many  Ihips  were 

difmailed,   and  one  was  wholly  lofl.     At  the  weft; 

ward  Vv'e  lofb  fort  PVilliam- Henry  with  many  circum- 

ftance| 


•1 

m 


M  . 


5N. 

[eav'n   to 


ice  ;   and 
us  attack 
roved  on 
lot  fo  on 
:alm  laid 
e  Crown 
;  we  pol^ 
after  a 
rks  were 
e,  and  a 
enemy's 


prqvi- 
Lppointr 

Halifax^ 

ittempt 
ope   to 

eceived 
lo'ts  of 
indeed 
t  there 
>s  were 
?  wefl- 
Ircum- 


I 


A  7hankfgiving  SERMON.   3  f 

fiances  of  reproach  ;  after  the  furrendcr,  a  number 
of  our  brethren  were  inhumanly  maffacrcd  by  the 
falvages  in  :he  French  army. 

The  laft  year,  (1758)  God  gave  us  occafionto 
fing  of  mercy  and  of  judgment.  Louijhourg  again 
furrender*d  *  to  Britifh  troops,  commanded  by 
General  Amber fi^  and  covered  by  a  fquadron  of  his 
Majefty's  (hips  under  the  command  of  Admiral 
Bofcawen.  The  garrifon  was  numerous,  and  aided 
by  five  (hips  of  the  line  in  the  harbour.  But  the 
fiege  was  conduced  with  fo  much  wifdom,  that  we 
fuftained  very  little  lofs,  and  the  fhips  in  the  har- 
bour were  all  taken  or  deftroyed  before  the  city 
capitulated,  which  greatly  diminilhed  the  French 
naval  force. 

On  the  other  hand,  our  army  before  Ticonderoga 
or  Carilon  met  with  a  humbling  repulfe,  and  after 
having  fuftained  great  lols,  J  retired  over  the  lake> 
to  the  furprife  of  the  whole  country  ;  while  our 
enemies  triumph'd,  and  laughed  us  to  fcorn. 

Our  difgrace  was  in  a  degree  viped  away, by  the 

brave  and  fuccefsful  enterprize  againft  fort  Fronte- 

vac^  the    grand    magazine  for  the   forts  to  'the 

fouthward,  which  was  wholly  deftroyed,  y  with   its 

artillery, 

*  July  26.         \  This  Adlion   was  July  8,  when  near  200* 
.  cf  the  Englilh  army  were  killed,  wounded,  and  miffing. 
(I  Au^uji  27. 


Li 


32    A  Hankfgking  SERMON. 

f 

artillery,  (lores  and  a  vaft  quantity  of  provifions 
and  goods. — The  happy  confcqiience  of  which 
was,  the  French  demolilhed  Fort  du  ^efne  *  and 
left  us  in  pofTefTion  of  the  country  around  it  -,  and 
the  fouthern  provinces  were  delivered  from  the  de- 
predations and  barbarities  of  the  Indians  in  thofe 
parts. 

After  fuch  a  mixt  ftate  of  things,  which  have 
only  tended  to  lengthen  out  the  war,  God  has  at 
length  bro't  us  to  a  year  that  is  full  of  illuftrioug 
events.  A  year  which  has  been  *'  us  the  light  of  the 
morning,  when  the  fun  rifeth,even  a  morning  wiui-* 
out  clouds".   , 

r 

'  The     fhips  appointed  for  the  American  fervicc 

were  not  detained  in  the  channel  by  contrary  winds-, 

they  were  not  broken  by  florms  ;  or  diftrefied  by 

ficknefs.  TheAdmiral  -f  who  was  fet  over  the  fleet, 

theGenerals  who  v/ere  to  lead  our  armies,  were  men 

of  tried  courage  and  condudt.    Men  that  loved  their 

country^  and  were  willing  to  venture  their  lives  to 

promote  it's  intereit.   We  have  heard  of  no  diftance 

and  fufpicion  between  land  and  fea  officers  on  the 

one  hand,  of  no  jealoufies  and  animofities  btween 

regulars  and  provincials  on  the  other.     There  has 

been   a   mutual  confidence  and    harmony    every 

where,  and  each  one  has  endeavour'd  in  his  flation 

to 


AVx. 


verr^uer  2^. 


t  Adrnkal  Savwdbrj. 


ON. 

provifions 
of  which 
tefne*  2^nd 
I  it  ;  and 
m  the  de- 
in  thofe 


ich  have 
d  has  at 
luftrious 
:ht  of  the 
ngwila- 

fervicc 
^  winds  i 
fled  by 
le  fleet, 
re  men 
sd  their 
ives  to 
ifl:ance 
)n  the 
)tween 
're  hasi 

every  ' 

lation 
to 


w 


A  thankf giving  SERMON*    33 

to  fcrve  the  common  caufe. — An  omen  this  of  the 
fuccefs  with  which  our  arms  have  been  blefs'd,  a^ 
it  had  a  happy  tendency  to  produce  it. 

The  meflengers  who  brought  the  news  of  our 
acquifltions,  foUov.ed  onq  another  in  a  quick 
fucceflion. 

First,  the  garrifon  of  Niagara  furrender'd 
ppifoners  of  war,  *  and  we  gained  poflefllon  of  that 
important  pafs,  which  is  much  the  beft:  way  of 
communication,  the  French  have  with  their  fettle- 
men  ts  to  the  fouthward. 

1'his  conquefl:  was  preceded  by  two  advanta- 
ges over  the  enemy,  with  which  it  was  very  nearly 
connected,  &  which  deferve  our  thankful  notice. — 
The  firft  -f-  was,  when  a  party  of  near  two  thoufand 
French  and  Indians  attack'd  Ofwego^  where  was 
our  magazine  for  the  fupply  of  the  troops  be- 
fore Niagara  \  the  lofs  of  which,  would  have  been 
of  fatal  confcquence  to  that  expedition.  But  the 
party  met  with  fuch  a  warm  reception,  tiiat  they 
loon  retired  with  confiderable  lols. 

The  other  advantage  was  J  over  1200  French, 

and  feveral  hundred  Indians  from  Venango.     Thefe 

troAps  were  coUedted  with  a  view  to  attack  Pitf- 

hnrgh^  (once  fort  du  ^icfne^)  but  turned  their  courfe 

E  in 


*  7^'b  25- 


1 7"b  s  ^  ^' 


X  7"!y  24- 


■/ 


I 


34     A  77:)a^k/ghwg  sermon: 

ui  iiope  to  raife  the  fiegc  of  Niagara.  The  whole 
pany  was  defeated  with  very  grcit  lofs  ;  which 
g'ca^ly  expedited  the  furrender  of  this,  as  well  as 
fecurcd  the  other  fort. 

AnouT  the  fame  time,*  after  a  faint  rcfiflancc,our 
army  iinjcr  Gen<  ral  Amkerft  became  poflefs'd  of 
the  fort  and  lines  of  Ticonderoga  j  before  which* 
our  troops  met  with  fuch  a  fatal  repulfe  the  lad 
ye^r. 

In  a  few  days,  Crown  Pcint^  which  has  been 
for  many  years,  fuch  a  terror  to  thefe  northern 
colonies,  was  abandoned  by  the  French  and  in 
pofiefFion  of  the  Englifli  f 

Thus  thefe  three  forts,  the  redu(5bIon  of  either 
of  which  would,  in  former  campaigns,  have  crown- 
ed a  Ceneral  with  laurel,  were  in  a  fhort  fpace 
brought  under  the  Englifh  dominion,  with  very 
little  effufion  of  blood.  "  It  is  the  Lord's  doing, 
it  is  marvellous  in  our  eyes" 


&> 


And  yet,  God  has  cavifed  us  to  fee  greater  things 
than  thefe.— -Amidft  all  the  joy  v/hich  arcrfe  in  our 
breafls,  at  the  fuccefs  of  the  Britllh  arms  to  the 
weRward  ;  our  hearts  were  in  pain  for  the  brave  Ge- 
neral Wolfc^  who  with  his  little  army  was  encamp'd 

before  Quebec^  and  oppofed   by  the  main  flrength 

of 


* 


*  «"y 


July  27. 


t  Augtiji  4. 


A  Thankfgmng  SERMON.    35 

of  Canada^  commanded  by  M.  Montcalm^  a  name 
too  well  known  among  us.     We  had  heard  of  the 
difficulties  with  which  this  army  ftruggled  •,  of  the 
repulfe  it  had  at  one  time  net  with  ;  of  the  ftrength 
of  the  city  •,  of  the  numbers  t  lat  defended  it  \  of 
the  impenetrable  lines,  behind  which  they  had  fe- 
cured  themfelves.     Our  laft  advices  were,  that  the 
General  had   made  fuch  a  change  in  the  fituation 
of  our  army,   as  was  like  to  bring  on  fbmething 
decifive. — The  event  has    been  agreable  to  thefe 
expedlations.     It  bro't  on  the  battle,  f  which  has 
decided  the  fate  of  §uehec  •,  which  has  decided,  tis 
probable,  the  fate  of  Canada  -,  that  country,  which 
we  were  ready  to  fear  was  never  to  be  conquered ; 
at  lead,  it  gives  us  reafon  to  hope  for  this  happy 
confequence. 

The  furrcndcr  of  rhls  important  fortrefs,  is  an 
event  truly  great. — It  is  great,  as  the  welfare  of 
this  country  is  nearly  afiedlcd  with  it ;  it  breaks 
all  the  defigns  of  the  French  •,  and  affords  an  agre- 
able profpedl,  that  our  civil  and  religious  privileges 
will  be  continued  to  poflerity. — It  is  gren,  as  we 
may  hope,  it  will  put  an  end  to  the  ravages  of  the 
Indians  on  our  frontiers. — It  is  great,  as  it  was  at- 
tended vdth  difficulties,  which  would  have  been 
infarmountable  to  any,  but  a  General  of  fuch  heroic 
fortitude  and  confummate  fkill,  fuch  fine  officers, 

E  2  and 


t    September  \i* 


36    A  Thank/giving  S  E  k  M  O  N. 

and  fuch  intrepid  foldiers. — It  i*"  great,  as  our  army 
in  the  battle  which  introducVi  it,was  oppofedby  near 
twice  their  number,  with  a  General  at  their  head 
of  great  experience  in  the  art  of  war,  aiid,  whp  had 
not  yet  failed  in  any  attempt  he  had  made.— It  is 
great,  as  thefe  colonies  have  had  this  conqueft  fo 
long  in  view,  and  have  met  with  fo  many  difap- 
pointme  Its  in  th'bir  defigns  againll  it. — It  is  great 
to  lis,  as  we  were  ready  to  give  u])  all  hopes  of 
fu^jefs  ;  and  no  doiibt,  had  wc  failed  in  this  lad 
attempt,  we  mufl  have  giv'h  over  the  expedition  ; 
tht'  confequences  of  which,  who  can  tell  ^.  So  low 
were  bur  expedations  funk,  that  when  the  news, 
that  Slucbec  was  in  the  poirclTion  of  the  Englilli' 
firft:  arrived,  wc  could  fcarce  think  it  a,  reality  : 

"  It  fcem'd  at  firfl  a  pleafing  dream 
''  of  what  we  willi'd  to  fee'\ 

**  Then  was  our  mouth  filled  with  laughter^ 
*'  and  our  tongue  with  finging"  •,  joy  was  painted 
on  every  countenance,  but  no  one  knew  how  to 
cxprefs  v/hat  he  felt. 

AxD  yet  there  was  fomething,  that  fccmcd  to 

check  our  joy  ;  fomething  that  teaches  us,  wc  are 

not  to  look  for  unmixed  happinefs  in  the  prefenn 

Itate.     The    fame   mefengcr,   that    brought    the 

tidings  of  \.\y^  vidorv,  ar;:l  of  the  great  acquifition 

that 


A  Than)if giving  SERMON.     37 

that  followed  it,  brought  the  tidings  alfo,  time  the 
brave  General,  to  whom  underGod  wc  were  chiefly 
indebted  for  it,  was  fallen.  Tender  of  his  foldicrs 
lives  he  expofed  his  own.  He  lived  long  enough, 
to  put  his  troops  in  the  way  to  vidory.  He  lived, 
till  he  faw  the  enemy  vanquilh'd  \  and  then,  as  if 
fdtisfied  with  life,  he  refigned  his  great  fouV^  and 
bid  adieu  to  the  world  and  all  things  in  it. 

How  uncertain  is  earthly  glory  !  at  leafl  the 
enjoyment  of  it  is  uncertain.  To  what  honors 
would  tliis  great  Comir*nder  have  been  advanced, 
by  his  graciousPrince,  and  under  an  adminiftration, 
that  is  able  to  diftinguilli  mcrit,andis  jull  to  reward 
it  !— He  is  taken  from  them  all. — He  is  taken  a- 
vvay  in  the  prime  of  life,  when  he  might  have  lived 
the  ornament  and  defence  of  his  country.  O  Lord, 
how  unfearchable  ;ire  thy  judgments,  thy  ways  are 
pait  finding  out  !  If  fuch  dilpcnfations  are  dark  and 
myfterious  •,  yet  God,  we  know,  is  wife  and  good. 
And  by  the  death  of  fuch  a  Leader, we  are  taught  to 
"  ceafe  from  man,  whofe  breath  is  in  his  noflrils, 
"  and  to  trull  in  the  livinn;  God". 

To  this  glorious  Being,  all  fuccefs  is  ultimately 
to  be  afcribed.  The  greateil  and  the  befl  of  men, 
thofe  who  perform  the  mod  eminent  fervices,  are 
byt  inflrumcnts  in  his  hand,  '*  who  doth  according 
to  his  will  in  the  armies  of  Heaven,  and  among 
the  inhabitants  of  the  earth".-  In 


38    A  Jhani/gking  SERMON. 

In  every  flep  of  the  expedition,   the  fuccei's  q( 
which  we  are  tliis  day  called  particularly  to  com- 
memorate, we  are  to  eye   the  Providence  of  God. 
"  The   Lord  hath  done  great    things  for  us"y 
He  conduced  our   Ihips  up   that  difficult  river, 
which,   from  the  difafter  in  the  year    171 1,   has 
been  reprefented  as  almoft  impaflable  for  Englifh- 
men. — He  preferved  them  in  that  terrible  ftorm, 
with  which   they    were    vifited,  foon   after  their 
arrival    at  the  place  of    their  deftrnation.      He 
carried  our  forces  thro  the  difficulties  and  dangers 
of   the    fiege.— He  prefei*ved    their    health    and 
fent  them    fupplies. —  He    infpired     our    troops 
with   courage    in  the   time    of  adlion,   to  fland 
againft  the  repeated  difcharge  of  the  enemy  with- 
out fhrinking,  or  (hewing  the  lesrfl  figns  of  fear  f 
And  then  to   rufli  on  with  fuch  vehemence  and 
ardor,  as  carried  all  before  them.^— He  removed 
the  French  General,  who,  if  he  had  furvived,  might 
very  much  have  changed  the  appearance  of  things. 
In  fine,  it  was  God,  the  great  Ruler  of  the  univerfe, 
that  gave  ^^ebec  into  our  hands.     Not  unto  us,- 
not  unto  us,  O  Lord,  but  to  thy  name  we  give 
glory.     He  denied  this  falvation  to  our  Fathers  i 
He  has  granted  it  unto  us,  unworthy  as  we  are  of 
his  goodnels.     "  Let  us  fing  unto  the  Lord,  for 

he  hath  triumphed  glorioufly". 

It 


us". 


■ 


A  Thank/giving  SERMON.    39 

It  is  impoflible,  but  we  fliould  be  afFefted  with 
fuch  furprifing  fuccefs  :  Nature  will  have  it's  courfe; 
our  breads  will  expand  with  joy,  when  we  meet 
with  things  that  are  very  pleafing  to  us.  The  only 
enquiry  then  is,  whether  we  fliall  turn  the  courfe 
of  it  into  a  religious  channel,  and  give  glory  to  God 
**  who  only  doth  wondrous  things".  And  this,  I 
hope,  is  no  queftion  at  all  in  this  audience. 

Let  us  then  "  abundantly  utter  the  memory  of 
his  great  goodnefs,  and  fing  of  his  righteoufnefs". 
While  we  fpeak  well  of  his  name,  and  acknowledge 
our  obligations  to  him,  let  us  not  affront  him  by 
our  impiety  and  difobedience.  Let  us  render  to 
the  Lord  according  to  his  benefits  •,  and  evidence 
that  we  are  fincerely  thankful,  by  "  bringing  forth 
thofe  fruits  of  righteoufnefs,  which  are  by  Jefus 
Chrift  to  the  praife  and  glory  of  God".  The  judg- 
ments of  Heav'n  have  not  reclaimed  us,  may  we 
be  melted  by  mercies  !  May  the  goodnefs  of  God 
lead  us  to  repentance. 

Let  us  be  encouraged  to  the  duty  of  prayer. 
We  may  humbly  hope,  that  God  has  heard  the 
many  prayers  that  have  been  going  up  to  him, 
and  in  anfwer  to  them,  has  granted  fuch  great 
fuccefs  to  the  Britifh  arms.  Let  us  fliil  acknow- 
ledge God  in  all  our  ways,  that  he  may  direct  our 

paths. 

We 


■# 


fi  40    A  Hank/giving  SERMON. 

We  have  net  put  off  the  harnefs.  General 
Amherft  is  yet  in  the  field,  and  has  arduous  things 
before  him  :  If  this  wife  Commander  fliould  at- 
tempt  to  pafs  the  lake,  as  feems  to  be  his  defign, 
we  may  expert  he  will  meet  with  great  difficulties 
and  dangers.  It  becomes  us  then  to  rejoice  with 
holy  fear  and  trembling,  and  to  prepare  for  every 

While  we  contemplate  withfacred  gratitude,on 
the  furprifing  turn  of  affairs  in  America^  we  ought 
not  to  forget  the  fmiles  of  Heaven,  on  the  arms  of 
Great-Britain  and  her  allies  in  Europe  ;  in  whofe 
profperity  we  are  deeply  interefled. 

Thro'  the  fignal  fivour  of  providence,  the  vaft 
preparations  of  the  enemy  to  invade  England,  have 
liitherto  proved,  as  we  hope  they  always  will,  only 
impotent  menaces  :  while  the  Britidi  fleets  have 
failed  triumphant  before  the  French  ports,  and 
have  been  able  to  annoy  them  on  their  own 
coafis.  ' 

*'  The  Lord,    the  God  of  Heaven,  who  hath 

made  the  fca  and  the  dry  land",  hath  again  broken 

I  the  enemies  naval  llrength,  which  touches  them  in 

^  a  very  tender  part,  as  it  greatly  encreafes  our  fupe- 

riority,  where  it  moil  concerns  us  to  be  fuperior. 

To 


fneral 
liinss 
at- 
'Hgn, 
lulties 
with 
[every 

de,on 
ought 
ms  of 
whofe 

le  vaft 
,  have 
1,  only 
s  have 
!,  and 
own 

>  hath 
)roken 
em  in 
'  fupe- 
rior. 
To 


A  Tlankfgiving  SERMON.    41 

To  this  great  Being,  we  alfo  afcribe  the  glorious 
viflory,  obtained  by  the  allied  army  conducted  by 
the  illuftrious  Prince  Ferdinands 

The  fuccefs  of  our  troops  in  Germany  is  of  the 
greater  importance  to  us,  as  the  French  army 
was  approaching  our  King's  hereditary  dominions 
there  :  By  fubduing  thofe,  they  might  hope  to 
inake  themfelves  amends  for  our  acquifitions  in 
Americd^  and  at  length  to  recover  them,  i  hefe 
hopes  we  truft  are  now  defl'-oyed. 

May  the  God  of  armies  flill  condu6t  our  forces 
both  by  fea  and  land  •,  may  He  tread  down  our 
enemies  under  us  ;  and  difpofe  them  to  rcafonable 
terms  of  peace,  the  only  end  we  ought  to  aim 
at  in  war. 

I  CANNOT  finifli,  without  dropping  a  tear  over 
the  calamities  of  war.  What  an  Aceldama  !  Vv^hat 
a  field  of  blood  !  h.as  fm  m  ide  this  v/orld,  that  was 
once  a  paradice.  Flow  melancholy  the  ntcirllicy, 
which  calls  the  fons  of  Adrjn  to  deilroy  one  ano- 
ther ! 

We  pity  our  enemies  :  We  arc  grieved  to  think 

of  the  diftrefs  and  mifery  to  which  they  are  juflly 

reduced.     We  wifh  them  all  the  comfort,  that  is 

confident  with  our  ovm  fecurity.    We  heartily  wifh 

F  and 


I 


a 


42     A  Thaftkfgiving  SERMON. 

and  pray,  that  by  means  of  the  conqueft  we  have 
made,  they  may  come  to  an  acquaintance  with  the 
facred  fcriptures,  may  be  recover'd  from  popifti 
fuperftition  and  error,  and  may  have  all  fpiritual 
and  eternal  bleflings. 

May  the  Gofpel  in  it's  purity  be  carried  among 
thci  natives  of  the  land.  The  prefent  fituation  pf 
things  affords  a  fine  opportunity,to  fpread  the  know- 
ledge of  our  blefied  Redeemer  among  every  diftant 
tribes.  I  hope  we  fliall  not  be  backward  to  embrace 
it.  Who  can  tell,but  for  this  caufe,God  hath  granted 
thofe  fuccefles,  in  which  we  now  rejoice  ?  The 
grateil  obflrudions  to  this  good  work  are  now  re- 
moved. It  will  be  a  melancholy  confideration,  if 
there  are  none  found,  that  are  willing  to  fend,  or 
to  be  fent  on  this  important  errand.— I  had  rather 
entertain  the  pleafmg  thought,  that  the  Redeemer's 
Kingdom  is  like  to  be  enlarged,  and  that  he  is 
about  to  take  pofleflion  of  thefe  "  dark  places  of 
the  earth,  which  are  full  of  the  habitations  of  cru- 
elty".  There  will  be  a  time,  when  the  religion 

of  Jefus  will  prevail  throughout  the  v/orld  :  Wc 
ought  to  hope  and  pray  for  that  time,  when  the 
"  Spirit  will  be  poured  out  on  all  flelh",  and  in 
confequence  of  it,  wars  Ihall  ceafe  from  the  earth  \ 
and  the  flate  of  the  Church,  which  will  extend 
thro     the  world,  will   be   ferene    and  happy  : — 

When  men  of  all  nations  will  love   one  another, 

live 


lof 


A71!}ank/givmgSERM0]<I.   43 

live  quietly  together,  and  abound  in  a6ls  of  kind- 
nefs  and  charity — "  When  they  fhall  not  hurt  nor 
deftroy  in  all  this  holy  mountain  •,  for  the  earth 
fhall  be  full  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord,  as  the 
waters  cover  the  fea".— We  are  not  xxKe  to  fee  thefe 
happy  days  •,  it  will  abundantly  fatisfy  us,  if  we  ar- 
rive at  the  world  of  love  and  peace  which  is  above. 


AMEN. 


t  'i~^^ 


#.« 


